By Michael Kondoudis, Trademark Attorney
This is our COMPLETE guide to Taylor Swift’s trademarks.
If you want to learn about Taylor Swift’s trademarks, what products and services she protects, and Ms. Swift’s trademarking strategy, then this guide is for you.
CONTENTS
1. Introduction
Over the years, Taylor Swift has established herself as a force to be reckoned with in the music industry. She has become one of the most popular recording artists in the world. In addition to her success as a recording artist, she is also known for her savvy business acumen. Recently, she has been making headlines for her trademarking efforts.
Along with her successful music career, she has also built a successful brand, trademarking phrases like “this sick beat” and “nice to meet you, where you been?” In addition to trademarking her name, Swift has also trademarked several of her song titles, including “Shake It Off” and “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.”
By trademarking them, she is ensuring that they can only be used in association with her products and services. In a competitive industry like the music business, trademarking is a smart way to protect one’s brand and maintain control over one’s image. Taylor Swift is a master of both music and marketing.
RELATED: What is a trademark?
2. Taylor Swift’s Trademarking Efforts
Taylor Swift, individually and through her company TAS Rights Management, currently owns over 200 U.S. trademarks.
How many trademarks does Taylor Swift have?
Taylor Swift has about 50 trademarks and owns over 200 federal trademark registrations for them. Ms. Swift started using her trademarks in 2001 and started registering them in 2008.
When did Taylor Swift start filing trademarks?
Taylor Swift first began filing trademark applications in 2007. Since then, Taylor Swift has filed over 350 trademark applications.
What does Taylor Swift trademark?
Taylor Swift has filed trademarks for:
- Her name, her initials, and her signature
- The names of her albums and fan club
- Song titles and lyrics
- The names of her concert tours and music festivals
3. The Taylor Swift Trademark
The TAYLOR SWIFT trademark covers a wide range of merchandise, including clothing, stationery, and toys. The trademark has been used extensively by Taylor Swift and her team to promote her brand and sell merchandise. In 2014, the trademark was featured on the cover of TIME magazine. The Taylor Swift trademark is a valuable asset for Taylor Swift and her team, and it has helped her to build a successful career in the music industry.
Is the Taylor Swift name trademarked?
Yes, the name Taylor Swift is trademarked. Taylor Swift trademarked her name in 2007 and currently owns more than thirty trademark registrations for her name.
U.S. Trademark No. 3,439,210 for TAYLOR SWIFT
When was Taylor Swift trademarked?
Ms. Swift filed her first trademark applications for TAYLOR SWIFT in March of 2007. The applications were granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and they are now registered.
What does the Taylor Swift trademark cover?
The TAYLOR SWIFT trademark registrations cover:
- Clothing;
- Entertainment services including live musical performances by an individual;
- Series of musical sound recordings; pre-recorded audio cassettes, compact discs, DVD’s and video tapes featuring performances by an individual;
- Digital media including downloadable audio files and downloadable audio and video recordings featuring musical entertainment;
- Downloadable video and musical sound recordings
…and more
Is Taylor Swift copyrighted or trademarked?
The name Taylor Swift is trademarked because it is a brand. Names, including the names of recording artists like Taylor Swift, are eligible for trademark protection.
Copyrights protect creative works, such as music, songs, lyrics, and album covers. Copyrights do not protect names such as Taylor Swift.
4. What are Tylor Swift’s Trademarks?
Taylor Swift has trademarked her name and image to prevent others from using them without her permission. She has also trademarked several phrases from her songs, such as “This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things” and “Swish Swish.” This is an effort to protect her brand and ensure that she receives all the profits from any products or services that bear her name or likeness.
How many trademarks does Taylor Swift own?
Taylor Swift owns over 200 U.S. trademark registrations.
What did Taylor Swift trademark?
Some of the things that Taylor Swift has successfully trademarked over the years include her name, her stage name (“Taylor Swift”), certain phrases associated with her (“this sick beat,” “nice to meet you,” “wherever you are”), and even her cats’ names (“Meredith” and “Olivia”).
The Taylor Swift trademark list
The Taylor Swift trademark list includes trademarks for:
- Her name: TAYLOR SWIFT
- Her initials: T.S.
- The names of her tours: THE 1989 WORLD TOUR
- The names of her Albums: FEARLESS. 1989
- The name of her fan club: SWIFTIES
- Song titles: SHAKE IT OFF, AND I’LL WRITE YOUR NAME
- Selected song lyrics: PLAYERS GONNA PLAY
She’s even trademarked her signature!
Here’s the full Taylor Swift trademark list:
- MIDNIGHTS MAYHEM WITH ME
- TAYLOR SWIFT MIDNIGHTS
- FEARLESS TAYLOR’S VERSION
- RED TAYLOR’S VERSION
- SWIFT
- TAYLOR SWIFT EVERMORE ALBUM
- REPUTATION TAYLOR’S VERSION
- 1989 TAYLOR’S VERSION
- SPEAK NOW TAYLOR’S VERSION
- RED TAYLOR’S VERSION
- TAYLOR SWIFT TAYLOR’S VERSION
- FEARLESS TAYLOR’S VERSION
- TAYLOR’S VERSION
- TAYLOR SWIFT EVERMORE ALBUM
- CHRISTMAS TREE FARM
- TS
- FOLKLORE ALBUM
- FOLKLORE
- LOVER FEST
- A GIRL NAMED GIRL
- SWIFTMAS
- LOVER FEST EAST
- LOVER FEST WEST
- TAYLOR SWIFT TOURING
- LOVER
- MEREDITH, OLIVIA & BENJAMIN SWIFT
- THE OLD TAYLOR
- MEREDITH & OLIVIA SWIFT
- TS
- BIG REPUTATION
- TAYLOR NATION
- … READY FOR IT?
- THE OLD TAYLOR CAN’T COME TO THE PHONE RIGHT NOW
- LOOK WHAT YOU MADE ME DO
- REPUTATION
- TAYMOJI
- SWIFTIES
- SWIFTIE
- TAYMOJI
- SWIFTMAS
- BLANK SPACE
- AND I’LL WRITE YOUR NAME
- THE 1989 WORLD TOUR
- NICE TO MEET YOU. WHERE YOU BEEN?
- COULD SHOW YOU INCREDIBLE THINGS
- CAUSE WE NEVER GO OUT OF STYLE
- THIS SICK BEAT
- S.
- T.S. 1989
- 1989
- PLAYERS GONNA PLAY
- SHAKE IT OFF
- WELCOME TO NEW YORK, IT’S BEEN WAITING FOR YOU
- 1989
- TAYLOR SWIFT
- SPEAK NOW
- TAYLOR SWIFT FEARLESS
- REPUTATION
- TAYLOR SWIFT
5. Taylor Swift’s Trademarking Strategy
Taylor Swift and her team have carefully cultivated and protected an expansive brand comprising a variety of trademarks. Some believe she may be planning to start a merchandising empire similar to what Beyoncé has built. But, whatever her reasons, by trademarking her name and other brand elements, Swift has protected her brand and prevented others from using her work without permission. As a result, she has maintained control over her image and her career, cementing her place as one of the top recording artists in the world.
For more than twenty years, Michael Kondoudis has been the go-to trademarking expert for businesses of all shapes and sizes. Michael is a USPTO-licensed trademark and patent attorney, educator, speaker, and author of the Amazon best-seller: Going From Business Owner to Brand Owner. He is also an authority trusted by national news media on major trademark stories.
Fun Facts: Michael is a member of the Bar of the U.S. Supreme Court and an actual rocket scientist (B.S. Astronomy and Astrophysics, Indiana University 1994).